Extruded window mullion and curtain wall structures



Dec. 30, 1958 F. A. SCHILLING 2,866,527

EXTRUDED WINDOW MULLION AND CURTAIN WALL STRUCTURES Filed Dec. 10, 1956M I [III/Ill IN VENTOR FREDERICK A. SCH/LLING fad/(51m ATTORN UnitedStates Patent EXTRUDED WINDOW MULLION AND CURTAIN WALL STRUCTURESFrederick A. Schilling, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ApplicationDecember 10, 1956, Serial N 0. 627,310

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-76) My invention relates to improvements in extrudedwindow mullion and curtain wall structures.

The present general form of mullions for use in large windows and incurtain walls of large buildings is usually of two parts, one of whichis erected vertically across an opening to carry wall and window panelsand is usually an external U-shaped member and the other a member to beused exteriorly to close the open back of the U-shaped member and toserve also as interior trim for the window or curtain wall. Instructures of this nature it becomes necessary to drill complementarybolt or screw holes in the members in order to bind them together withbolts or screws and obviously it is a tedious procedure to align theparts together with the bolt holes properly in register.

To obviate the above, is the principal object of the present invention.

Further objects are to provide a capping member which can be put intoplace with consummate ease and secured to the supporting member by thesimple expedient of lightly tapping the capping member into closeproximity to the supporting member.

Other objects will appear as the specification proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mullion made up of outer and innerextruded metal sections.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a mullion having an outer extruded metalsection and a wood inner section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of a building showing the positionin which the mullion sections are used.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

The numeral indicates generally an outer mullion which consists of aU-shaped generally extruded section having side walls 12, a front orconnecting wall 14 and outwardly extending flanges 16. The flanges 16serve in part to receive the edges of curtain wall panels, sash frames,window frames or other parts 18 which form part of a curtain Wall 20.The inner edges of the side walls 12 are provided with opposed sawtoothribs 22, each having an inwardly inclined bevel 24 and a substantiallyright angular latching seat 26.

The inner mullion generally indicated by the numeral 30 is not generallyrequired to serve as a supporting member and is preferably made ofthinner members, but is otherwise largely similar to the outer mullion10. The inner mullion is provided with similar side walls 12, connectingwall 14, flanges 16 and sawtooth ribs 22 as before described. Theflanges 16 of the inner mullion section 30 may be provided with rightangularly turned cap strips 32 which overlie the flanges 16 of the outermullion and extend to whatever curtain Wall member is carried by saidouter mullion.

Where a wood finish member is substituted for the inner mullion section30, said wood member or casing, as indicated by the numeral 34 and shownin Figure 2, is hollow backed or provided with the shallow groove 36having spaced side Walls 38 which extend forwardly towards the sash orother parts 18.

, The mullion sections 10 and 30 are secured in intimate contact witheach other by a connector strip 40 which is engaging position.

preferably of plastic having a small amount of flexibility andresilience. The connector strip 40 has a web 42 which is preferably ofsubstantial thickness and supports a pair of flanges 44 on its front andrear face. Each flange 44 is provided with a sawtooth rib 46 which ribsaer provided with leading bevels 48 and a latching seat 50. If it isdesired to insulate the outer and inner mullions 1i and 30 respectivelyagainst each other and to utilize the connector strip 40 as a vaporbarrier, a ribbon 52 is formed integrally with the strip and extendsparallel to the flanges 16 of the outer mullion and is then inwardlyturned as at 54 towards the curtain will sash 18. The inner part 54 ofthe ribbon also serves as a stop to prevent the flanges 44 fromextending too far inwardly between the side walls 12 when closing theopening of the mullion into which the connecter has been inserted. Thepart 54 is not, however, necessary when using a wood casing 34 since thecasing itself backs up the sawtooth ribs of the co-nnecter so that theywill extend properly into engaging position with the complementaryparts.

Obviously if wood casings 34 are used to cap the outer mullion one setof sawtooth ribs 22 only are used and the wood will be secured to theconnector strip by a suitable cement, or by any other preferred means.

When the outer mullions 10' are in place and the curtain wall and windowparts are all connected thereto, the inner mullions 30 or the woodcasings, are affixed by inserting a suitable length of connector stripinto a member 10 until the sawtooth ribs of both become mutuallyengaged. The inner mullion is then placed over the exposed flanges ofthe connector strip and forced into What I claim as my invention is:

l. A mullion structure for curtain walls comprising an extruded metalU-shaped mullion section having spaced side walls defining an elongatedopening, each of said side walls having on its inner face a sawtoothedrib, an extruded metal capping member to close said opening, a connectorstrip of low heat transfer material carried by the capping member, saidconnector strip having a pair of spaced flanges each provided with arib, the ribs of the flanges being mutually shaped to enter into lockingengagement one with the other when the capping member is forced intojuxtaposition with the first-named mu1- lion section and a ribbon formedintegrally with the connector strip and extending between the metallicmullion section and the metallic capping member to isolate the metallicsections one from the other.

2. A mullion structure for curtain walls as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe co-nnecter rib is provided with a pair of stop members extendingoutwardly beyond the spaced flanges and parallel thereto.

3. A mullion structure for curtain walls as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe capping member is U-shaped having side walls each provided with asawtoothed rib and the connecter strip is provided with spaced flangeson both of its faces and extending in opposite directions.

4. A mullion structure for curtain walls as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe mullion and the capping member are U-shaped and provided withlatching ribs and the connector strip is a web having a pair of flangesextending from each face, the flanges having latching ribs at their freeends, and a pair of stop members aligned with the web and adapted to beengaged between contiguous faces when the mullion structure is assembledand form a vapour barrier separation between said faces.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS

